UPDATE: The ASC New Stars and the North Texas Rayados both qualified for the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after winning their respective groups in the USASA Region III tournament. The New Stars become the first team from Southern Texas to qualify in back-to-back seasons in the Modern Pro Era, while the Rayados, from North Texas, are in the tournament for the first time. We will have more on this weekend as we receive the details.
While both teams have clinched a spot in the US Open Cup, the two clubs will square off on Sunday at 10 a.m. local time to determine who will represent Region III at the USASA Nationals in Chicago this summer.
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Saturday results will be updated with the standings below
The first day of the USASA Region III tournament in Houston is in the books with four matches and four winners. The competition, that will determine the region’s two entries into the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, is divided into two groups of four with the winner of each group punching their ticket.
In Group A, ASC New Stars are looking to return to the tournament for the second year in a row, and they got off to a good start with a 3-1 victory over the NPSL’s Galveston Pirate SC. It was Galveston who struck first with an early goal, but the New Stars took over with three unanswered goals before the halftime break. They are joined at the top of the table with fellow Texas club, FC Rahr who shut out the Greenville Eagles 2-0.
The two first place clubs will square off on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. local time with the winner of that match being put in the driver’s seat for one of the two US Open Cup spots. If the match finishes in a draw, then it will come down to the final round of matches at 8 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Much like in Group A, Saturday morning will feature a match between the Group B co-leaders. The Royal Eagles from Florida and the North Texas Rayados both were victorious and will play each other at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The Eagles, who are representing Florida in the tournament for the second straight year, defeated the South Texas club Barracudas 2-0. The North Texas Rayados edged Oklahoma champion Boston Avenue AC 2-1 to earn the full three points.
Check out the standings and the schedule below for more information …
2012 USASA Region III US Open Cup qualifying tournament
| GROUP A | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GD |
| ASC New Stars (TXS) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 2 | +7 |
| Galveston Pirate SC (TXS) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | +1 |
| FC Rahr (NTX) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -4 |
| Greenville Eagles (SC) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| GROUP B | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | GD |
| NTX Rayados (NTX) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 9 | -1 |
| Royal Eagles (FL) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 8 | -1 |
| Boston Avenue AC (OK) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | +0 |
| Barracudas (TXS) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 6 | +2 |
Friday, April 27 – 8 p.m. CT
Group A
ASC New Stars (TXS) 3:1 Galveston Pirate SC (TXS)
FC Rahr (NTX) 2:0 Greenville Eagles (SC)
Group B
Royal Eagles (FL) 2:0 Barracudas (TX)
NTX Rayados (NTX) 2:1 Boston Avenue AC (OK)
Saturday, April 28 – 10 a.m. CT
Group A
Greenville Eagles (SC) 1:3 Galveston Pirate SC (TXS)
ASC New Stars (TXS) 5:0 FC Rahr (NTX)
Group B
Royal Eagles (FL) 0:4 NTX Rayados (NTX)
Barracudas (TX) 0:2 Boston Avenue AC (OK)
Saturday, April 28 – 8 p.m. CT
Group A
FC Rahr (NTX) 2:3 Galveston Pirate SC (TXS)
Greenville Eagles (SC) 1:1 ASC New Stars (TXS)
Group B
Boston Avenue AC (OK) 4:5 Royal Eagles (FL)
NTX Rayados (NTX) 2:8 Barracudas (TX)
Sunday, April 29 – 10 a.m. CT
ASC New Stars vs. NTX Rayados
Both group winners qualify for the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
2012 USASA Region III participants
ASC New Stars (South Texas): The New Stars are the top-flight side from the Houston-based Aria Soccer Club that was founded in 1974. After winning the title last year, the team fell 4-0 in the first round on the road to Orlando City, who went on to nearly upset MLS’ FC Dallas in the third round as well as win the USL Pro championship. The defending champions were winless two years ago (0-2-1) in the Region III tournament, but qualified previously in 2008 for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, finishing runners-up in a 2-1 decision against Clearwater Galactics (FL) for the regional title. They were blanked, 3-0, by the USL First Division’s Charleston Battery (pro second division) in the First Round that year. They participated in the regionals in 2006, finishing second in their group after withdrawing the previous year. MORE: 2011 Meet the USASA – ASC New Stars
Boston Athletic (Oklahoma): The entrants from the Oklahoma Soccer Association were complete unknowns that were simply listed as the Tulsa-based BAAC Reserves, who won the Adult State Cup Division I tournament in mid-March. They had advanced with a 2-1 victory over COASL IFC in the championship of the three-team event, which also included Ponca City Tiburones. This year, only the club team from Oklahoma University stood in the way. The early March contest was a back-and-forth affair that saw BAAC rally twice for a 3-2 victory on three goals from Ashley McInnes, a former University of Tulsa star. According to TheCup.us records, this year will mark only the seventh time in the last 18 years where a team from the Sooner state has entered the Region III tournament. Prior to 2010, the last team to enter from Oklahoma was a club called Guerrero finished last in Region III group play back in 2001.
Greenville Eagles (South Carolina): The faith-oriented club, which has numerous teams in local Greenville 11v11 and 7v7 leagues, returns for a second chance. The full-sided team is currently dominating the local league with a 3-0 record and 13-2 aggregate goal ledger. Last summer the club had the top two teams in the local league with identical 7-1-0 records as well as the first-place team in the second-flight. The club was well-rounded a year ago with seven different players accounting for their eight goals. Juan Martinez scored in the 2-0 opening victory and his second in a 9-0 rout to finish the group in second with a 2-1 record. They advanced last year from the South Carolina tournament in Myrtle Beach.
Royal Eagles (Florida): Launched in 2009 in the Lakeland area, east of Tampa, and during their brief existence, they’ve experienced nothing but success. They were undefeated in Division 3 of the Florida Suncoast Soccer Leagues (FSSL), winning the league and the Florida Classic tournament in their inaugural campaign. The following year, because of their high level of play, the FSSL approved an unprecedented jump from Division 3 to the Premier Division. They edged Florida Gators, the only other state entrant, in a thrilling 3-2 decision for the state title.
FC Rahr (North Texas): A team a lot of fans can get behind, it is a successful side that is one of the powerhouses in Fort Worth. It is also sponsored by the popular local microbrewery, Rahr and Sons Brewing Company. The club, consisting of 120 players on eight teams, has won 14 league and tournament championships out of the Fort Worth Adult Soccer Association.
NTX Rayados (North Texas): A largely unknown side, the team is currently in first place in the North Texas Premier Soccer Association’s 1A Division with a 6-1-0 record. The league features past US Open Cup participants, Legends FC and Dallas Roma FC.
Barracudas (South Texas): An unknown side, the team had a good showing in the state tournament, qualifying with 2-0 and 4-3 wins in their group. The second victory was over fellow Region III participant Galveston Pirate.
Galveston Pirate (South Texas): The team was a late addition to fill the eighth berth in the tournament. The Pirates fell 4-3 to fellow Region III participant Barracudas in the state tournament and, according to the South Texas site, did not play its second – likely due to Barracudas having already won the three-team group. The club is also a member of the National Premier Soccer League’s four-team South Central Conference.